Sarah Palin and the Tea Party

Charles Hayes, author of September University said, “those of us who do not do the intellectual work required by citizenship in a democracy may simply depend upon the ideas of those we deem wise enough to think for us.” Judging from the images that have been circulating from the TeaParty rallies, there are plenty of people in our country who continue to avoid the intellectual work that’s needed to be informed, how else can we explain the buzz that continues to follow Sarah Palin.

If it weren’t for the potential harm stirred up by the rhetoric at these rallies, these scenes would be comical. They’re certainly great fodder for late night T.V. But this past week, following the passage of the healthcare bill, several offices of democratic politicians were vandalized and there was at least one death threat (see the video below).

Regardless of your political persuasion, those of us who stand on the side of civility and true sharing of ideas cannot sit on the sidelines and allow these rallies to gain the kind of credance that is given to them by Faux News.

The Right dominates AM talk radio and Fox News but progressives dominate alternative media and we can be a force to be reconned with when we use the media to get out our message.

If, after watching the video below, you decide that the TeaParty movement is nothing to be concerned about then do nothing. But if you want to counter the affects this movement is having, there a some things you can do. Here are a few:

April 6th is LA Net Neautrality Action Day – contact congressional representatives Joe Baca and Loretta Sanchez and let them know you support Net Neutrality. For more information call Common Cause 213-252-4552. Click to learn more about the term Net Neutrality.

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About Sharon Kyle

Sharon Kyle, J.D. is the Publisher of the LA Progressive which she co-founded with her husband Dick Price. Ms. Kyle is a professor of law at Peoples College of Law in Los Angeles. She sits on the union board of the ACLU of Southern California and is on the editorial board of the BlackCommentator.com. Ms. Kyle is the proud mother of a teacher and an attorney and proud step-mom of a premed student.

“Regardless of your political persuasion, those of us who stand on the side of civility…”

Yeah, right, our side is civil and responsible. That’s why you picked the freakiest picture of Sarah Palin you could find to post with your article. Because making fun of her will be really effective in stopping the tea party momentum, right?

Our side continually underestimates the right wing because we belittle them and make fun of what we don’t understand. It’s not the classic uneducated, racist war mongering winger we need to be concerned about in the upcoming elections. It’s the huge number of Democrats and Independents who are furious that our President has turned out be a corporatist who is putting forth policies that destroy the middle class with wealth redistribution schemes like the bankster bailouts and the health insurance mandate that actually blocks true health reform.

But go ahead and keep pretending it’s just a bunch of racists ranting against our guy. That worked well in the Massachusetts senate race, didn’t it?

In June, in all of it’s infinite wisdom, the California State University Campus at Turlock, located in the middle of California’s Central Valley, will be hosting a $500 a plate dinner featuring Sarah Palin as it’s keynote speaker. The dinner, even though the Central Valley is one of the hardest hit areas in the nation economically, is sold out. It is sold out to elitist Republicans who are furthering the downfall of true working family values and the American Dream of equality for ALL people. It is sponsored by tea baggers and bigots who have declared open warfare on their American brothers and sisters and do not care what casualties may be inflicted because of their actions to either side. They are the destroyers of America.

These people are using our institutions of higher learning as a staging area to destroy what representation we in the Central Valley, Mountains, and Foothills have and make sure we gain no further ground in November. They are not only trying to oust Congressman Dennis Cardoza CD18 (D)who’s Congressional area includes Merced County, a large portion of Stanislaus County, as well as parts of San Jauquin County. As most people know the main focus of attack on Congressman Cardoza is now because of his stand and vote on Health Care. That is not the only reason they want to take out Dennis. They are also making sure that enough hysteria is created to hold onto the 19th CD seat soon to be vacated by George Radonovitch (R), and up for grabs in November.

Either Richard Pombo of environmental fame, who was ousted by Congressman Jerry McNerny in CD11, or Jeff Denham, who terms out in California SD12, will be the Republican candidates this November in CD19. WE will have to wait until the smoke clears from their Primary to find out which of these ” esteemed gentlemen” will be attacking everything America once stood for.

The Dem. candidate who was endorsed at my Region 7 meeting, (Les Marsden of Mariposa), has been actively traveling up and down the entire length and width of CD19 for over a year now, (CD19 takes in parts of Fresno, Madera,and Stanislaus Counties as well all of Mariposa and Toulomne Counties), is going to have a very long hard battle to fight. We’re going to need help on the ground as well as help gathering $$$$. The Republican’s will spend whatever it takes to maintain control of CD19.

Dennis Cardoza is being attacked by Anthony Cannella (R), who is the son of past Democratic Assembleyman Sal Cannella. Once again Republicans want Congressman Cardoza’s seat to solidify their hold on California’s Central Valley, impede progress in Congress and push America to the brink of destruction through misrepresentation. We can not let this happen.
It is a sad day indeed when California’s Institutions of Higher Education help further the downfall of America through hypocrisy and misrepresentation.

I Almost forgot to mention, the Democratic Headquarters for the Stanislaus County DCC, has the honor of adding it’s name to the growing list of Democratic Headquarter to have a ROCK break one of it’s windows.

LGBT Rights

Irene Monroe: Long before June officially became Gay Pride Month, and October “Coming Out Month” for the LGBTQ community, Halloween was unofficially our yearly celebrated “holiday,” dating as far back at the 1970s when it was a massive annual street party in San Francisco’s Castro district.

The Middle East

Richard Greeman: Anti-government demonstrations spread across Morocco after social media spread the story of Mousine Fikri, a fishmonger crushed to death inside a garbage truck as he tried to block the destruction of a truckload of his fish confiscated by police.